Revelation 1: Do You Know Alpha & Omega?
Verse of the Day: (V8) “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
1. Alpha (V1-10)
V9 “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The Almighty God revealed to Apostle John - at the island of Patmos which he was there as a prisoner because of his faith in Jesus Christ and God’s Word - of the manifold blessings as well as fiery judgments that shall come to mankind. It was a great encouragement to John as he realised that God was in control of everything – the past, the present and the future – because He is Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end, and He exists from everlasting to everlasting. However, John also got a fearful glimpse of the impending judgment and punishment for those who reject and curse God - fiery hell.
2. Asia (V11-17)
V11 “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
The Alpha and Omega through Apostle John sent a book of His judgment and assessment on the 7 churches in Asia and only 2 out of the 7 churches, namely - Smyrna and Philadelphia - were commended for their faithfulness and labour of love, while the rest of them - Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea - were judged and found unfaithful and disobedient. Let us pray and ponder as we search our hearts and the spirituality of our church that we be commended - like Smyrna and Philadelphia – to be found obedient to God and His Word, and are faithful to death or till His glorious return.
3. Amen (V18-20)
V18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Amen means – Let it be done. We can never outsmart and outwit God, because He is our Creator who holds the keys to glorious heaven and fiery hell. Though men time and again think that we are smarter and wiser than God, yet it shall come a time of reckoning and judgment that we are nothing but creatures in the hand of our Creator. The vital question is - Are we in the hand of a loving God because we believe and receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord? Or - Are we in the hand of an angry God because we reject and curse Jesus, and He shall punish us for our unbelief and rebellion? The choice is yours!
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I know You, Alpha & Omega, my Saviour & Lord.
