Revelation Part 12

Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)



Eternity-Inspiration for Monday 27th October 1997


Revelation Part 12

(Revelation 1:11 NKJV) saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
God writes to people and churches. One of the great differences between the Bible and say a book on philosophy is that the Bible is written to specific people in specific places and times in history. It is not separate from the stream of life. It partakes of time and place and culture and the little idiosyncrasies of life. These were real churches full of real people who needed to hear from Jesus. And He spoke to them.

At the same time that God speaks into history He also lives far beyond it as the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. [There is some difference among Greek manuscripts here and many modern translations leave out this part of verse 11 eg the NIV just has: (Revelation 1:11 NIV) which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."] However I shall make the choice to go with it. In verse 8 we have 'the beginning and the end" here we have "the first and the last". arche and telos had special meanings in the Gnostic world of John's day and so do protos and eschaton (first and last). They indicate that from the beginning to the consummation of Creation it is all Jesus. From the first creative principle (wisdom) to the last trumpet all is Christ.

The first/last distinction may be important in the light of the fact that the Gnostics had a strict hierarchy of 'gods' that ran from pure spirit (first) to matter (last). Jesus as the incarnate God was the shocking paradox of being both protos and eschaton. The first and the last. The fullness of deity in bodily form. (Col 2:9)

The seven churches have puzzled commentators down the years and three main interpretations have arisen....

1) Seven successive church ages.
2) Seven different types of churches found in any age.
3) Seven churches in Asia at that time. Prophecy has been fulfilled.


I side with one commentator who takes all three as occasion suits! Each has its strengths and weaknesses and none can be dismissed entirely. Prophecies often have multiple layers of meaning and that well may be the case here.

Jesus has not stopped speaking to His church! Though He ascended into heaven some 60 years before Revelation was written He still had things to say to His people through John. Jesus has not gone silent. He still communicates to His people through the Scriptures, through the Holy Spirit and through godly men and women in the midst of the church. Jesus spoke to the church through Martin Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Finney, and many greater and lesser saints of God. Jesus does not leave His people to "muddle through". He loves us far too much for that!

Prayer:
PRAYER GOES HERE

---------------------------------------------------------------

This devotional may be freely distributed for ministry purposes

Questions and comments may be sent to:
[email protected]
(not to the list please)

John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternitymag.com/
A Biblical Corner of The Internet
Eternity Inspiration - Free daily devotionals
http://www.eternitymag.com/etinsp.htm
Tell your friends to subscribe!