March 17: THE FIRST WORDS SPOKEN
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
With this opening statement of Jesus, the prologue of Revelation moves toward its close. The Lord Jesus is not only affirming the identity that John has just previously expressed, but He is equating that identity with God, the Almighty.* The description who is and who was and who is to come (repeated from v.4) emphasizes the heavenly Father who is from everlasting to everlasting, a readily understood expression used in the Scriptures.**
He is the God who is with us this very minute: God with us (Matthew 1:23). His people very much need this assurance! Painful circumstances in the “here and now” have a way of clouding our spiritual vision. He is also the God who was, the One who has already done such wonderful things for the objects of His affection. If we look into the past, we will find many marvelously fulfilled promises. And because of His proven record, we can rightly claim the rest of His promises because He can be totally trusted. His character is unbroken, steadfast, unchanging. Our future is secure because we know that the Lord of the present and past is the One who is to come. This is the blessed hope (Titus 2:13) of every Christian!
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord. These expressions assure us that He is in control and always will be, for He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. (Colossians 1:17 NLT)
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet. Revelation 1:9-10
Beloved, we are brothers and sisters—companions!—in the trials, tests, and tribulations that are coming upon the world. And Jesus is our Ultimate Companion! John had previously described himself as His servant and makes clear that bearing witness to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ (see also v.2) is a punishable offense in our fallen world. The sentence of hard labor on the isle of Patmos was unduly harsh for an old man such as John, and typifies the character of the Roman government. Yet, he was in the Spirit, knowing which day it was—the Lord’s Day!—when the first vision was given to him. It is interesting that when John saw Jesus (v.7), he recognized Him, but when Jesus spoke, it sounded as if the voice came from behind. Talk about “surround sound!” The loud voice, as of a trumpet is understood as a signal of preparation to meet God (see Exodus 19:16-17). On the Day that Jesus returns to gather His people and transport them to heaven, only those who are prepared will be left standing and ready to be received by Him into that victory processional to heaven. But first (Matthew 13:30,41), those unprepared will be gathered and taken . . . to where the eagles will be gathered together. (Luke 17:37, see also Matthew 24:28 & Revelation 19:17)
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3
* Matthew 10:40, John 14:9 **1 Chronicles 16:36, Psalm 41:13, 90:2, 103:17, 106:48, Micah 5:2