The Revelation of Jesus Christ
...and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him—even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” Revelation 1:5-8
From the text, John burst forth into a jubilant expression of doxology of praise when he realized that the God who was slain on the cross is also the one who provides grace and peace. The Lord Jesus Christ was the “faithful witness” for He alone fulfilled what was written in God’s word. The Scriptures we have was all about His earthly life. John also said that He is “the first to rise from the dead.” Jesus fulfilled the promise of resurrection to those that trusted Him as Lord and Savior and that they too just like Him will lived on for eternity. Leaders and monarchies of countries nowadays would think that they have the authority, yet The Lord Jesus Christ is the “ruler of all the kings of the world.” John described an all-powerful God whose reign will be forever. In our age of widespread humanism, blatant materialism and worn-out religionism the idea of an Almighty God who created, controls, and judges everything seems to be outdated. But God is still the “same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The first coming of the Lord Jesus was in lowliness but His second coming will be in glory and majesty. Everyone will see Him in His glory even those who rejected Him to have control over their lives, “even those who pierced him.” But that day will not be a joyful one for them instead they “will mourn for Him.” Their hearts will be grief stricken for there will be no more opportunity to repent. Then John records the sovereign words of the Lord, “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. No one can resist Him for He is from before the beginning of time and He will continue in existence even after the end of time. Yet in spite His existence as the Almighty God He “loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.” When John wrote this vision from God, he was imprisoned and was suffering in the island of Patmos but what made him hopeful and strong in the midst of his circumstances is the assurance that God will return and take those who belong to Him and they will reign with Him for eternity.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
