Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." English Standard Version (ESV)
Our church is just now completing the Community Bible Reading experience of reading through the New Testament, last week's reading was in John's epistles and Revelation. Today's verse is from chapter 1 in Revelation and speaks of God being the Alpha and Omega. These are the beginning and ending letters of the Greek alphabet, literally the beginning and the end of all things. The statement brings us back to Genesis 1:1 where "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". It also ties in with the beginning of John's gospel where he wrote in the beginning was the Word and the Word was God. John also writes of Jesus as being the living Word and in John 1:14 that the Word became flesh in the person of Jesus and lived among us.
In the English alphabet we have from A to Z. All of the words in the English language are formed from those letters and the 24 between. In the Bible we have the Words of God, the Word of Jesus. It all points to Him as being the Savior, Redeemer, the Comforter and all of the other names contained from Genesis to Revelation. He is the All in All.
The exercise of reading through the New Testament should encourage us to spend more time in His Word, in both Testaments, to get to know Him better, to get to know Him deeply and to live by Him as He lives in us. It is in this way that we "contend for the faith", we can make a stand in live, and we can draw upon His power as we live day to day.
I was reminded of the song by Aaron Jeoffrey, "He Is". If you have a few minutes listen to the song and see how Jesus is presented throughout the Bible. May we get to know the Bible well enough to be able to walk someone through the Bible this way.
Revelation 1:7-17 The Message (MSG)
His Eyes Pouring Fire-Blaze
4-7 I, John, am writing this to the seven churches in Asia province: All the best to you from The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive, and from the Seven Spirits assembled before his throne, and from Jesus Christ—Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings.
Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us,
who blood-washed our sins from our lives,
Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father,
forever—and yes, he's on his way!
Riding the clouds, he'll be seen by every eye,
those who mocked and killed him will see him,
People from all nations and all times
will tear their clothes in lament.
Oh, Yes.
who blood-washed our sins from our lives,
Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father,
forever—and yes, he's on his way!
Riding the clouds, he'll be seen by every eye,
those who mocked and killed him will see him,
People from all nations and all times
will tear their clothes in lament.
Oh, Yes.
8 The Master declares, "I'm A to Z. I'm The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I'm the Sovereign-Strong."
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