Alpha and Omega
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
We remember how he went up in the clouds.
Acts 1:9 ...while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1 Cor 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1 Cor 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
Rev 1:8 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.
God the Father is the Almighty God, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, this also refers to Jesus. Jesus was with the Father and speaks for the Father. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and omega is the last.
Rev 1:9 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 apostle John, was banished to the Isle of Patmos. Tradition has it that he was boiled in oil, but survived. The island was rocks, no trees and was a place that prisoners were sent to work in the quarries. He identifies with the persecuted church, a companion in tribulation. No life of luxury and riches for the Lord and his apostles, all suffered for the testimony of Jesus Christ and for the gospel. Is it any wonder then if we suffer for following him in the Spirit. The flesh always opposes the Spirit.
2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2 Cor 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Traditionally, the Lord's day is the first day of the week, on Sunday, the day that Christ arose from the dead. Is this anything to argue about? Not for me.
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
The important thing was that he was in the Spirit, in tune and aware of the Spirit when he heard a distinct voice. He heard behind him a great voice, as a trumpet.
Rev 1:11 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.
Jesus speaks to John in a vision, a distinct message that was to be written in a book, the book of Revelation and delivered to the seven churches; each here named. John spoke the visions as they came to him. The contents may not be in the order that the events will occur. He was to write what he heard and share it with the seven churches. An interesting parallel is that the apostle Paul wrote to seven churches. Both were imprisoned, so we should not complain about our lack of comforts in serving the Lord.
Superragman
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