Tag: Devotion

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 itunto 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.

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, 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.

Bodily, the Apostle John was in Patmos, but in the Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ met with him. The Apostle Paul testified that he was caught up into paradise when he said in 2 Corinthians 12:3-4 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

It was on the 69th year of Israel’s captivity in Babylon that Daniel the prophet sought the Lord to know Israel’s future when the 70 years of captivity is ended. The Lord revealed it to him in the record of Daniel 9.

Daniel 9:1-3 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

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.