Resources Genesis - Revelation - Alpha & Omega Who wrote the Bible? One of the things that strikes me is how it all fits together. Its design and pattern. I want us today to take a look at a couple of things - mainly Jesus and the title he gives himself - ‘Alpha & Omega’ and then also this principle of ‘Beginning & End’ and seeing this pattern identified for us in Genesis & Revelation. We mentioned a couple of weeks ago about ‘The Gospel’ - what it was and the foundations of Christ in creation, there in the beginning, rebellion against God - sin and it’s result - death. The importance of God’s Word to us. Holding firm to it and standing on it’s foundations. In part we will pick up again on this theme and develop maybe one aspect of it. The setting of the book of Revelation ( or unveiling ) is the Apostle John exiled on the island of Patmos ( a likely hard labour island - penal colony ) because of his Christian faith and witness. It was written around 95 AD, at a time when the Roman authorities were beginning to enforce the cult of emperor worship - ‘Caesar is Lord’. The church in general is and has been undergoing persecution, with warnings that it would continue. Some had already given their lives, whilst some were advocating compromise - a conflict that the church has faced in every generation. Revelation comes to John through visions. It is at the beginning of these happenings when Jesus states ... ‘I am the Alpha and Omega’ The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet - the ‘beginning and the end’ as it states in Rev 21 : 6. the ‘first and the last’ Rev 1 : 17 If this vision had have taken place in our day and culture the title Jesus would have given himself would be the ‘A to Z’ Jesus was before all things - he was in the beginning and nothing was before him. His eternity is brought out also in the phrase that follows ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come.’ Jesus is describing himself as being the complete and perfect and eternal revelation of God. He is saying in effect ‘I am from the very beginning to the very end, that is the Eternal One.’ He is declaring himself fully equal with the Father and gives himself the same description as the Father in v4. We can look at comparisons in Gen 1 : 1 and John 1 :1 - Jesus always has been, there was never a time when he wasn’t, nor will there be such a time. In dealing with things like eternity, we cannot grasp that concept - we live and dwell in time, Jesus doesn’t. We can also look at what the writer to the Hebrews says about our faith. Jesus is the author of it. He is the one who will bring it to perfection or completion. Our faith is wholly dependent upon Jesus - he is the starter of it and he is the completion of it. It is not works etc ... It is all of Jesus - grace poured out upon us through faith in Him. It is he who will sustain us and bring us to completion on that day. Surprise, surprise - it is not about us and what we do and achieve - it is all of Jesus. We are complete in Him. So Jesus is not only the beginner and finisher of our faith, he is the beginnings and end of all things. Let’s take this principle and look for a short while at the first and last books of the Bible, Genesis and Revelation, dealing with the first few and last few chapters of the Bible. When the universe was made and God had filled the lights, the sea, the sky, the dry ground - He looked at everything he had made and declared it all very good. But we know from continuing with our reading the this first paradise, this first earth was soon to be marred by sin - rebellion against God and so there would one day be a new heaven and a new earth. Let’s take a look at these things .... Alpha and Omega Principle Genesis 1 - 3 Revelation 20 - 22 1 : 1 In the beginning God created the 21 : 1 Then I saw a new heaven and heavens and the earth. a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. 1 : 5 God called the light ‘day’ and the 21 : 25 On no day will its gates darkness he called ‘night.’ ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 1 : 16 God made to great lights - the greater 21 : 23 The city does not need the light to govern the day and the lesser light sun or moon to shine on it, for the to govern the night. glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 2 : 17 ... for when you eat of it you will surely 21 : 4 ... There will be no more death. die. 3 : 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than 20 : 10 And the devil, who deceived any of the wild animals - Satan appears. them... will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Satan disappears. 3 : 6-7 Fruit of the tree was good, pleasing 21 : 27 Nothing impure will ever desirable ... Then the eyes of them both were enter it. ‘A city of no defilement.’ opened. The garden defiled. 3 : 8-10 The walk of God with his people 21 : 3 Now the dwelling of God is interrupted through sin. with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. The walk restored. 3 : 13 The serpent’s initial triumph, victory. 20 : 10 See above - Ultimate triumph of the Lamb. 3 : 16 Pain and sorrow. 21 : 4 No more pain. 3 : 17 The ground cursed. 22 : 3 No longer will there be any curse. 3 : 19 Man’s dominion over the ground is 22 : 5 They will reign for ever and broken as a result of man’s fall. ever. 3 : 23 So the Lord God banished him from 21 : 25 On no day will its gates the Garden of Eden. ever be shut ... New paradise open. 3 : 24 After he drove the man out ... Access to 22 : 14 That they may have the right the tree of life disinherited. to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Full access reinstated. 3 : 24 Driven from the presence of God. 22 : 4 They will see his face. Enlarge on each of these points briefly .... Jesus is the Alpha and Omega - the Beginning and the End - the First and the Last. He is the author of our faith - the completion of our faith. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. He has gone to prepare a place for us, he will come back and take us to be with him. Finish with article from ‘Insight Bible.’ Alpha and Omega Principle ( For reference during the message ) Genesis 1 - 3 Revelation 20 - 22 1 : 1 In the beginning God created the 21 : 1 Then I saw a new heaven and heavens and the earth. a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. 1 : 5 God called the light ‘day’ and the 21 : 25 On no day will its gates darkness he called ‘night.’ ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 1 : 16 God made to great lights - the greater 21 : 23 The city does not need the light to govern the day and the lesser light sun or moon to shine on it, for the to govern the night. glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 2 : 17 ... for when you eat of it you will surely 21 : 4 ... There will be no more death. die. 3 : 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than 20 : 10 And the devil, who deceived any of the wild animals - Satan appears. them... will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Satan disappears. 3 : 6-7 Fruit of the tree was good, pleasing 21 : 27 Nothing impure will ever desirable ... Then the eyes of them both were enter it. ‘A city of no defilement.’ opened. The garden defiled. 3 : 8-10 The walk of God with his people 21 : 3 Now the dwelling of God is interrupted through sin. with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. The walk restored. 3 : 13 The serpent’s initial triumph, victory. 20 : 10 See above - Ultimate triumph of the Lamb. 3 : 16 Pain and sorrow. 21 : 4 No more pain. 3 : 17 The ground cursed. 22 : 3 No longer will there be any curse. 3 : 19 Man’s dominion over the ground is 22 : 5 They will reign for ever and broken as a result of man’s fall. ever. 3 : 23 So the Lord God banished him from 21 : 25 On no day will its gates the Garden of Eden. ever be shut ... New paradise open. 3 : 24 After he drove the man out ... Access to 22 : 14 That they may have the right the tree of life disinherited. to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Full access reinstated. 3 : 24 Driven from the presence of God. 22 : 4 They will see his face. Back to top of page

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