Tag: Book of Revelation

Revelation 1:9-11 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 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.

It was Alfred Kazin (1915-) who observed well, “In a very real sense, the writer writes in order to teach himself.”¹ The Apostle John, being the receipient of the Christ’s vision of the future, was first blessed himself, being led by the Holy Spirit to know God’s truth.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Revelation 1:9-11 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 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.

John was commissioned to write a book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. He identified himself as John with no mention of himself as an Apostle of Jesus Christ or an elder, which he did in 2 John and 3 John. Rather, he identifed himself as a sufferer in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, exercising endurance and steadfast faith to remain true to his Lord and Saviour. He was imprisioned for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Like the Apostle Paul, he encoruaged the believers to “Keep On Believing” even amidst persecution – Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Indeed, Jesus said to His disciples before He went to the cross in John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John was a prisoner for the cause of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. And Lenski observed well here, “Between “affliction or tribulation” and “endurance or patience” John places “kingdom.” Strange combination! Yet not strange. When the affliction sets in, the kingdom produces the endurance. Even the order of the three words is illuminating. Were it not for the kingdom, which the world opposes, there would be no affliction for the partakers of the kingdom; were it not for the powers of the kingdom, its partakers could not endure.”

The word “companion” means “partaker, one who takes part in something along with another fellow participant or partner.” He was a prisoner as a result of allegiance and faith in Jesus Christ, God’s kingdom. He refused to acknowledge the Roman emperor, Domitian, as lord and god. He tells his readers, “I am one with you in experiencing persecution for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Jesus is King and Lord, the only true God. He will not bow to any other.

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

This is the description of God, that expresses not only eternity, but also infinitude, the boundless life which embraces all and while it transcends all. [Swete]

Isaiah 41:4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isaiah 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

The term “Almighty” focuses on God’s sovereignty, and with its emphasis on authority might be rendered “all-ruler” as well as “Almighty” [Swete, Apocalypse]
Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

This is the description of God, that expresses not only eternity, but also infinitude, the boundless life which embraces all and while it transcends all. [Swete]

Isaiah 41:4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isaiah 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

The term “Almighty” focuses on God’s sovereignty, and with its emphasis on authority might be rendered “all-ruler” as well as “Almighty” [Swete, Apocalypse]

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The Lord Jesus speaks these words, He is God Almighty. He came as a Suffering Servant in His first coming. But in His Second Coming, He will come as a Judge. Jesus was with the Father in the beginning of no beginnings.

The Proverbs describe well this truth in Proverbs 8:22-26 – 22 The LORD (God the Father) possessed (co-existed with) me (Wisdom, Jesus) in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. 23 I (Wisdom, Jesus) was set up from everlasting (there was never a time the Son did not exist as God), from the beginning, or ever the earth was. (Before all His works, Jesus was with the Father.) 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

God the Father and His only begotten Son Jesus Christ personified as Wisdom that was with Jehovah (the LORD) in eternity past before the world was ever made (Prov. 8:22-26). It teaches the eternal relation of the Son (Wisdom) to the Father.

Revelation 1:7-8 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The scene of the consummation of the age in Christ’s Second Coming is well described by the Apostle Paul and Jude in:

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Jude 14-15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Revelation 1:7-8 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Verse 7 ends with a double affirmation of the certainty of the fulfillment of the prophet oracle just given. “Nai” in Greek means “Yes”, rightly translated “Even so” is the usual word of affirmation in Greek, and it is followed by the Hebrew word of affirmation amen. Combined this way, the two words constitute the figure of speech called synonymia, whose function is to strengthen the certainty of what has just been prophesied [Bullinger].

As though not satisfied that he has made the prophecy’s certain fulfillment plain, in verse 8 the prophet adds the emphatic declaration of God the Father as further verification of this fact. The implied thought is that the prophecy of verse 7 is just as sure to be fulfilled as is the credibility of the speaker who identifies Himself in verse 8, by these significant titles. The sentence can be paraphrased, “I, the Almighty Lord of hosts, the unchangeable God, will accomplish all My will, fulfill all My word, and execute all My judgments”. [Bullinger]

The Alpha and Omega is the self-description by Jesus in Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Jesus is thus the Speaker of these words. The first and the last letter of the Greek alphabet, to emphasize the consummation of Christ’s work upon the earth when He comes to bear rule. The certainty of Christ’s coming again is thus emphasized.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

The world as we know now is heading in the direction that is totally opposed to the living and true God and His Son Jesus Christ as recorded in the Scripture. The Scriptures instructs us that all who reject Jesus Christ cannot enter heaven when they die.

A time is coming when the church will be taken to heaven and Christ will return to judge the earth. At that time, all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

It was the Jews who sold our Lord Jesus to be cucified upon the cross fulfilling the purpose of God for our redemption.

Mark 15:12-15 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto himwhom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And soPilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

The prophet Daniel was given the vision of Christ’s return in Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

Jesus will come to establish His rule on earth – Daniel 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

His saints will rule with Him – Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.