Revelation 1:1 - 8

April 26, 2020

Today is Sunday. We have lifted our service for six weeks now. While I miss my church family, we can still hear from God. Let’s dig into the book of Revelation.

Chapter one begins with a blessing (meaning happy or favored), “Blessed is the one who reads aloud 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” [Revelation 1:3 NIV]. John says there is something special about reading, hearing, and obeying the things found in the book. So consider yourself blessed as you stick with this study!

The reason for this blessing is the timing of the events. The word translated “near” carries the idea of "being in place" or "in position." One thought about the timing of events swirling around the end times it that it could happen in any generation, at any time (“imminent”).

John greets the seven churches of Asia mentioned in the book of Revelation with grace and peace. It seems what follows has little to do with grace and certainly will disturb peaceful thought. John uses the Trinitarian greeting in verses 4 and 5. The Father is described as “who is and who was and who is to come.” The Spirit is described as “the seven spirits.” Another way to translate this is “seven-fold Spirit,” an image from Isaiah. Jesus is identified as “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth… loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.” [Revelation 1:4 – 5 NIV] 

So why do we think we are NOT free from sins, now? Notice this is PAST tense, not FUTURE tense. Effectively, Jesus is saying we are free from our sins, now. While the sin nature still stalks us, the downward spiraling of the world pulls us, and our own weaknesses blind us, we do not have to remain chained under the control of sinful impulses or the sinful nature. We have been bought, washed, and freed by the blood of Jesus Christ. 

John reassures the readers, “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” [Revelation 1:7 NIV]. A problem the church faces is the delay of Jesus’ return, while maintaining its confidence. The New Testament suggests that the first generation of believers had the confidence that Jesus would return in their lifetime. This declaration is the first prophetic declaration of the book of Revelation.

Verse 8 states, “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” [NIV] This is another statement concerning the divinity of Jesus. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, while Omega is the last. God is saying He is the beginning, everything in the middle, and the end of all things. The formula focuses attention on three perspectives of time; “is” refers to the present tense, “was” refers to the past tense, and “is to come” refers to the future tense. This is the second time this formula has been used.

In these short verses, we are urged to live victorious lives in a broken, decaying, and dying world. Jesus return and our resurrection is scheduled to happen. Everyone has an appointed time of judgement that will result in one of two possible outcomes. Do you want to hear, “well done” or “depart from me?” it’s your choice. 

If we are bought, washed, and freed by the blood of Jesus, why do we continue to go back to the "vomit" sin? (see Proverbs 26:11) We do it because we have never allowed Jesus to effectively wash and free us. At some point, we need to yield to God and allow God to sanctify (meaning to "set apart," "make holy") us.

Optimistically looking forward, the isolation will slowly be relaxed and we will be able to meet as a congregation soon. If you are reading this and are in need of a church family, please join us at Faith Alliance Church of Fuoss Mills. (Just search "Fuoss Mills" and you will find us.)