Revelation 1:7-8 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
 
FOR the second time in the first eight verses of Revelation, John has affirmed his message is from the eternal God. “Alpha” and “Omega” are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. God is now. He was in the past. He is to come in the future. All things are complete in God. Jeremiah 51:19 He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including the tribe of his inheritance – the Lord Almighty is his name.
    The prophet Jeremiah and the apostle John spoke of God’s continuing presence, power and promise to his to mankind. God’s full portion to save the world through Jesus began when God personally came to Abraham to promise in Genesis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
    Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, became Israel. From Israel came God’s first-born people. The Lord God formed them in his power and promise to bring forth a personal Savior for all the world. Now, as John wrote these words, God’s power,  promise and personal presence through Jesus Christ had gone into the world to include the Gentiles. Out of Abraham, through Israel, to Jesus’ saving sacrifice and the Spirit’s power, God’s Word has become real to the world.
    But note. Many did not believe then, and many do not believe now. The Lord speaks to awaken even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.  These are the unbelievers – Jews and Gentiles – of the world who pierce the Lord with unbelief and disobedience. They negate the Lord’s power and fulfilled promises  on earth through Jesus’ personal sacrifice. When they see him coming on the clouds, they will not see a benevolent King, compassionately coming to draw all people on earth to him. Instead, they will mourn in fear that a Warrior King is coming to judge those who oppose him. In ancient times, clouds of dust in the distance often meant many warriors in chariots and on horses were coming to attack a city.  Our disobedience, too, pierces Guilt pierces unbelieving hearts to mourn their eternal punishment. Jesus’ heart with righteous judgment. Too late, they will know Jesus is, was and will be.
    Yes, so shall it be. Amen. This is God’s promise of his power when he comes to be personally present with his people again.
 
Prayer: Urge me, Lord Jesus, to be a warrior for your Word. I pray I am eager to witness to your truth: You are eternal Savior, who has given his life that I will live with you. Amen.

Revelation 1:5b (Jesus Christ) who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father — to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
 
WHO is Jesus? There is no better reference than John’s stirring summary.
    Jesus is who is the faithful witness.  He came from heaven to truthfully speak the Father’s righteousness to his creation. His work witnessed to the Father’s love and forgiveness. Recall Jesus said to the disciple Philip: John 14:7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well…9 “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father”. We must in turn be faithful witnesses to our Lord.
    Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. He is the first resurrected in the Spirit’s power to live eternally with God. Fully man, he died as a man to be raised to life. He is our example to know our lives in Jesus’ name will resurrect in his power.       
    Jesus is  the ruler of the kings of the earth. There is no other name above the Lord Jesus. He is the King of kings, the Lord of Lords. John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
    Jesus is the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. How great is the love of Christ! Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And Jesus’ own words in John 15:12-13 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Yes, Jesus is love who became man to demonstrate the depth of God’s love for us. He love us still, desiring we be with him.
    Jesus is redeemer who transforms our lives. He has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father. Priests were chosen in God’s law to represent God’s holiness to his people. They were to intercede for the people’s sins and their needs. They were to praise God for his benevolent care over them. As we follow Christ, we become new people with those same priestly purposes. We obey God. We pray for people. We praise God with our worship and our testimonies of his joy in our lives.
    Jesus is glorified. He has returned to live in heaven’s perfection. The Father has answered his prayer in John 17:1 “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you..4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” Completing the Father’s work in the world, we can truly declare of Jesus, to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
    Yes, may it always be we personally know how to answer, “Jesus is.”
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for demonstrating the wonder of salvation. Gratefully, we receive you love, your authority and your glory to guide and guard our lives. Amen.  

Revelation 1:4-5a John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5a and from Jesus Christ.  
 
MANY times we see greetings in the New Testament epistles begin with “Grace and peace.” There is a good, assuring reason for this. “Grace” was the Greek greeting; “peace” was the Hebrew greeting. The early church took these two greetings and used them together as a way of declaring that God had given these realities to his people. Two simple words convey a profound, eternal blessing.
    The language, too, of Revelation becomes evident here.  First, you will see the number seven is common throughout the epistle. Even here, seven is twice written. Seven is the number in Scripture that signifies completeness. The Triune God is directing John to write to seven churches as an illustration that God’s words ae for all the churches then and all that will be in the future. It would be good for church leadership to often turn to the letters to the seven churches in Revelation to understand if their church is obedient to the Lord.
    Second, John says the words come from three sources, including the “the seven spirits before the throne.” This is the Holy Spirit. He is complete in every way. As he is before the throne of God, he is God, one person in the Trinity.
    The letter also comes from the other two persons of the Trinity. The Father is defined as the eternal “who is, and who was, and who is to come.” Note the present tense “is” was written first. That means God is present now. God was present from eternity past. And God will come into the world again. Then John writes the letter is also from Jesus Christ. We’ll look more at how John defines’ Christ’s supremacy tomorrow. For now it is essential to know God has given a message to John. He will instruct John to write letters to seven churches (We will see what he writes.) and the instruction has come form the Holy Trinity. The complete power and authority of God has spoken to his church on earth.
    This reminds us the Trinity  is the source of all truth: 1 John 27b But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him. Yes, know God has given you the truth. Remain faithful to that truth.
 
Prayer: Holy God, I pray your church on earth today receives your words to prepare for your coming tomorrow. Amen.
     
 

Revelation 1:1-3 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw — that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
 
WE have just completed John’s gospel, which declares the divine traits of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. With Jesus’ teachings, miracles, death, resurrection and ascension, the gospel is a revelation – a disclosure and declaration – of Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man. Without doubt, by the end of John’s gospel, we know Jesus is alive.
    Now John has another task. Instead of looking back on Jesus’ saving work, he is to reveal Jesus’ future work. This work includes issuing warnings to the churches, speaking judgment against all evil and promising eternal reward for all believers.
    John precisely tells us his message to us is a message from God. An angel – a messenger – has come to John to declare the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Does this alert you? Are you ready to regard God’s message to you through John as trustworthy and true? Are you prepared for correction, judgment and victory?
    If so, God will bless you as you receive and respond to his Word. Yes, “blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it.” You will heed the warnings. You will be at peace in God’s promises. You will know that those who do not hear and take to heart these words will be cursed. Those who do will be blessed.
    One reason many of us avoid this epistle, this letter to the church, is that it contains some very difficult imagery. We do not understand all that is written. I believe another reason we avoid the message is to avoid considering God’s wrath on the sinner. Perhaps we feel unworthy of God’s majesty as we are reminded of God’s power, beauty, truth and justice.
    But rejoice! In Jesus, we are alive in the Savior’s eternal blessings. By Jesus’ blood, we are made safe in the blessing of new life.
    Yet, we must heed the hard words. Know this is why our work is to live in Jesus’ authority he declared in Matthew 28:18-22  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
    John has been obedient to the Lord’s commands. So must we. Our work is to be messengers of salvation, calling people from God’s judgment into eternal life. This is the great revelation of all history. Receive the privilege of the work in Jesus’ name.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. Empower my heart to obey your commands, to know your words are trustworthy and true. In your name I pray, Amen.