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by Gary Sims
11/17/03
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The Epistles
Revelation 1:4-8 – Alpha & Omega
Key Verses: (NRSV)

4: “Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne.” – John’s letter to the early Christian churches comes at a time of severe persecution. It comes as a message of hope for those who see only darkness. It comes as a message from God (“Him who is and who was and who is to come”) and from the Holy Spirit (“the seven spirits who are before His throne”).
5a: “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” – John’s message is also from Jesus, our teacher, our redeemer, and our king.
5b: “To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood” – His eternal love for us is demonstrated by His sacrifice and the release from the bondage of sin.
6: “and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.” – John turns his opening comments from a greeting/blessing into praise for God. All things point to God and the His offer of eternal life.
7: “Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see Him; even those who pierced Him.” – One day, the clouds of our lives that block our view of heaven will lift and our vision of Christ will be clear.
8: “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” – Praise God!

Points to Contemplate:

Does the book of Revelation confuse you? Do you tend to avoid reading it? Do you understand that it is message of hope? That it was written for people who have no hope, who live in the darkness of persecution, pain, and suffering? Did you know that the word “apocalypse” means disclosure? That John is talking about a time when all our darkness will be set aside and the curtains to heaven will be drawn open, revealing the glory of God? Is it possible that when John says that the end is near that he is referring to the end of pain, the end of darkness, and the end of our separation from God?
What names for God are most meaningful to you? Is He Father and nothing more? Or do you seek to describe Him with a variety of names, such as the ones John uses in these verses, to broaden your understanding of His magnificence? Does having a variety of names for the Holy Spirit such as Advocate, Counselor or Guiding Light help you to understand His role in your life as well?
Are you a priest serving God’s kingdom? Do you recognize that this is only possible through the purifying sacrifice of Jesus Christ? That His victory over death has opened our pathway to eternal life? That in the forgiveness of our sins we are made holy in order to serve God and to build His kingdom here on earth? That we, through Christ, are members of His holy priesthood?
When will Christ appear from the clouds? Will it be a single event in history marking the end of time as we know it? Or is John possibly referring to a personal, one-on-one type of experience that happens at the end of each of our lives on earth? Will everyone eventually experience the Truth? When that happens will you be prepared? Will you rejoice in His glory or wail in your loss?
Is God everything to you, your Alpha and Omega? Or are there places in your life that you hold separate from God’s kingdom? Maybe He is only the Alpha and Omega in your church life? Perhaps money is your god in your business or professional life? Maybe acceptance, friendship, and fun are your gods in your personal life? Can you open up your heart to allow God to be your Alpha and your Omega in all aspects of your life?

Promises of the Gospel:

John’s descriptive and apocalyptic writing style brings wonderfully beautiful images of God to our mind. He expands our understand of the Holy Trinity through these descriptive names. He also, very clearly, provides us with thumbnail sketch as to why we believe in Christ and what the ramifications are if we choose not to. Christ is King for a reason and we can become important, viable members of His priesthood for the building of His kingdom through the acceptance of His sacrificial love.

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