Text: Revelation 22:13
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
Introduction: Scripture Reading- Rev. 22:11-14
The Meaning of Alpha and Omega
- Alpha and Omega: the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.
- Christ’s role as both the Creator and the Completer or Perfecter of all things.
- Just as we have discussed how the OT writers repeated things in different ways, this is what Jesus is doing here. John is writing to Jewish Christians, so they would understand this kind of language or speech.
Discussion:
I. Christ as the Beginning
- Christ’s role in creation:
- His eternal nature, preexistent before all things (Micah 5:2).
II. Christ as the End
- Christ’s role in bringing history to its culmination
- The final victory of Christ over sin and death
III. The Eternal Reign of Christ
- Jesus’ reign is from everlasting to everlasting
- His sovereignty over time and history.
IV. Application: Living in Light of Eternity
- The call to trust Christ in every season, knowing He is both the beginning and the end.
- Encouragement for believers: Christ’s ultimate victory gives us hope and perseverance.
Conclusion:
The Eternal Christ
- Revelation 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."
- Invitation
Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:11-14
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
The Meaning of Alpha and Omega
- Alpha and Omega: the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.
- Christ’s role as both the Creator and the Completer or Perfecter of all things.
- Just as we have discussed how the OT writers repeated things in different ways, this is what Jesus is doing here. John is writing to Jewish Christians, so they would understand this kind of language or speech.
Discussion:
- Christ’s role in creation:
John 1:1-3
Genesis 1:26 (God- eloheem, plural for of God; Father, Son, HS)
God gave the command
Jesus did the work
The Holy Spirit or Spirit of God (vs. 2) did the beautifying [polishing]
Colossians 1:15-19
Christ’s work was not finished or complete at creation
- His eternal nature, preexistent before all things (Micah 5:2).
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
- Christ’s role in bringing history to its culmination
Revelation 21:5-8 [Context is about heaven and judgment]
- The final victory of Christ over sin and death
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
John 19:30 Jesus said he was thirsty, so the Roman soldiers gave him vinegar to drink. “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
“It is finished” refers to Jesus’ work on Earth. (He fulfilled all prophesy from the Old Law).
Heb. 5:8-9 “vs. 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; vs. 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”
He still is going to be the Judge on Judgment Day when he reads from the Lamb’s Book of Life in which are the names of those that have been obedient and faithful unto death.
- Jesus’ reign is from everlasting to everlasting
Isaiah 9:6-7
Matt. 18:1-6 The disciples did not understand the spiritual nature of the kingdom of heaven.
Heb. 10:7-18 [He reigns over His church or kingdom, at the right hand of the father, and will continue to reign when His faithful make it to heaven.]
- His sovereignty over time and history.
He was meant to be the savior from the beginning
He was meant to be the high priest from the beginning
He was meant to be the King from the beginning
All of the roles are one in the same.
- The call to trust Christ in every season, knowing He is both the beginning and the end.
2 Cor. 3:1-12; 17-18
- Encouragement for believers: Christ’s ultimate victory gives us hope and perseverance.
Heb. 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Heb. 11:6 “ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Luke 12:35-40
The Eternal Christ
- Revelation 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."
- Invitation